Super Bowl XLVI is less than four months away, yet members of the National Football League (NFL) Emerging Business Program are looking further into the future.
Businesses in the program from all across Indiana will compete for a chance to provide their clients with Super Bowl tickets by participating in the Emerging Business Challenge.
“This is an opportunity for businesses to leverage the platform of the Super Bowl – get business beyond the game. It’s only the second time it’s happened in Super Bowl history, so we’re really excited about it,” said Marshawn Wolley, director of Emerging Business/Community Outreach for the Super Bowl XLVI Host Committee.
Due to the scale and scope of the Super Bowl, the NFL created the Emerging Business Program as a way to offer minority and women owned businesses a chance to help bring the event to life.
“The program is extensive and multi-pronged, designed to not only prepare businesses for Super Bowl consideration, but also to expose them to a process that the NFL hopes will provide long-term business growth and success,” said Tisha Ford, director of Events Business Development for the NFL.
When the NFL has a particular need, it reaches out to members of the Emerging Business Program where participants compete for an NFL contract to provide a service.
Wolley said the advantages of the program are that businesses can pitch for as many contracts as they can handle, however the disadvantages are that not every member will receive a contract.
When forming the Indianapolis Emerging Business Program, Wolley said the host committee was very specific about businesses that qualified to be a part of the program. They let interested businesses know from the beginning that they would be vying for a limited amount of contract opportunities and that they shouldn’t expect long-term relationships with the NFL.
Businesses would get the opportunity to not only network with the NFL, but also with other businesses and have greater exposure.
There are 400 statewide members of the Indianapolis NFL Emerging Business Program and nearly a third of businesses in the program are outside of Indianapolis. A complete list of participating businesses can be found at https://emergingbusiness.indianapolissuperbowl.com/search_vendor.aspx. This online tool is also being promoted to other entities such as Indiana Sports Corp., Ivy Tech and the Indiana Conventions and Visitors Association.
“BC Forward and Knowledge Services received an NFL contract for staffing,” said Wolley. “It’s a huge opportunity because it’s going to be about 600 jobs that are going to be needed. Side Street Catering got the catering contract. Kountry Kitchen did work for the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration. Kenzie Security Group is going to be doing the security. We have a number of emerging businesses that are getting opportunities already.”
Other benefits to being a part of the Emerging Business Program are the business development opportunities. Wolley gives the example of a Super Pitch Monday. There, participants were able to engage in mock NFL interviews. They had 10 minutes to pitch their ideas and were given instant feedback.
Wolley said one participant had an interview with the NFL later that week and was able to improve their presentation.
Ford cites the Playbook Workshop Series – a series of workshops with the sole purpose of supporting business development by working with local partners and educational institutions to design a specialized program.
Now members of the Indianapolis Emerging Business Program will get the chance to help other businesses have a Super Bowl experience.
Each member will receive one of two logos, one for businesses who have received NFL contracts and one for businesses who have not but are still a part of the program. Members are challenged to send out a flier containing their logo to new clients. If that client does at least $500 worth of business with the Emerging Business Program participant, the client will be entered in a drawing to receive two tickets to Super Bowl XLVI. For every $500 the client spends, they have a greater chance of winning more tickets.
“It’s an incentive for businesses to collaborate with Emerging Businesses and the EB Challenge will serve as a marketing tool for Emerging Businesses to develop more business,” said Raphael Sanchez, Emerging Business Program co-chair.
Participants have until Jan. 21, 2012, to complete the challenge.
For more information about the Emerging Business Program, visit www.indianapolissuperbowl.com.
